20 foreign shipping companies operating on the shores Nigeria have reportedly left the country over low business, as a result over three thousand (3000) of their staff unemployed have been rendered jobless.
According to the President of the Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (DUN), Anthony Emmanuel, the Federal government’s importation policy is largely responsible for the closure of some of the shipping businesses.
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The Federal government has put a ban on the importation of some commodities as part of efforts to revive the economy.
“The current government policy on importation though with the best intention seems to be wreaking more havoc on the economy and ought to be reviewed urgently” he told Guardian
He urged the Federal Government to review the ban on the importation of rice, wheat, vehicle spare parts and industrial machinery until the nation is able to produce for local consumption. Nted added that the failure to do this would encourage smuggling, diversion of ships to neighboring countries, idle ports, and retrenchment of workers, unemployment and general loss of revenue to government.
Among the companies that have left the country include, Nippon Yusen Kasha, Taiwan’s Evergreen Line, Messina Line, Mitsui O.S.K Line Hapag-Lloyd and Gold Star Line (GSL) and many more